Shloka 3
Kārtavīrya–Samudra Saṃvāda and the Jāmadagnya Precedent (आश्वमेधिक पर्व, अध्याय २९)
स कदाचित् समुद्रान्ते विचरन् बलदर्पित: । अवाकिरन् शरशतै: समुद्रमिति न: श्रुतम्
sa kadācit samudrānte vicaran baladarpitaḥ | avākiran śaraśataiḥ samudram iti naḥ śrutam |
শোনা যায়, একদিন শক্তির দম্ভে উন্মত্ত হয়ে তিনি সমুদ্রতটে বিচরণ করছিলেন; আর শত শত বাণ বর্ষণ করে সমুদ্রকেই যেন আচ্ছাদিত করে দিলেন।
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse cautions that mere strength is not virtue; when power is driven by pride (bala-darpa), it becomes a spectacle of domination. Ethical kingship requires restraint and humility, not impulsive displays that challenge nature or others.
A powerful king is described as walking along the seashore and, out of pride in his might, shooting such a dense volley of arrows that the ocean appears covered. The speaker presents it as a well-known report (iti naḥ śrutam).